The Image staff muses on the culture of keeping up appearances

Life's a beach for Boy/Band of Outsiders Spring/Summer 2010

September 14, 2009 | 8:55
am

"I brought L.A. to New York!" That was the first thing Scott Sternberg said when I caught up with him at the New York Fashion Week presentation of his Band of Outsiders and Boy by Band of Outsiders collections at Milk Studios on Saturday evening.

There was more to it than that of course (see more after the jump) but I recalled his words a few minutes later when, eight floors up, I found myself chuckling at designer Victor Glemaud's fun Quiksilver board short collaboration (think gold foil scarab beetles over aloha prints, and neon color blocking) -- which happened to be right next door to the short film loop installation showcasing the latest collection by Southern California expats Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos. We may not be able to get a decent fashion week off the ground but there's no denying the style influence of Southern California -- especially when it comes to the spring/summer collections.

Sternberg, whose label is headquartered in Los Angeles but is made on (and often influenced by) both coasts, said his beachy keen tableaux, complete with sand on the floor, an old airplane seat and radio- controlled toy boats on an outsized puddle was inspired by Malibu "circa 1978" -- as well as Jacques Cousteau's "The Silent World," and Beach Boy Dennis Wilson's solo album "Pacific Ocean Blue."

When Sternberg added the women's line Boy a few seasons ago, he told me that his approach was to slowly populate the whole Band of Outsiders universe season by season, and he clearly relishes doing just that -- and not just by swapping out the scenery either -- he seems to genuinely enjoy experimenting with new techniques -- for example, he added dip-dying and dip-bleaching of garments to his repertoire to great effect. Not only the shades of blue on neckties and madras shirts that evoked the seascape on the horizon, but also gradations of dusty orange that any Angeleno would swear they'd seen in a sunset from the 405.

The women's collection had touches of nautical/outdoorsy whimsy too, with a drawstring tank dress in a Liberty sailboat print, skirts in a ropes and knots print. Also of note were Sternberg's version of the bandage dress; skirts of wrapped green and navy blue (as well as white and navy) suspender fabric, which was also used in the season's Manolo Blahnik for Band of Outsiders women's sandals.

Sternberg's footwear partnership with Sperry continues to soldier on, and the eye-catching collaboration for next spring are the boat shoes (click on the photo at right for a larger version) covered in a cotton fabric that peculiar shade of gray usually reserved for those drawstring sweatpants we all used to have.

Photos: Looks from the Boy by Band of Outsiders and Band of
Outsiders Spring/Summer 2010 New York Fashion Week presentation.
Credit: (top and middle) Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson /for Los
Angeles Times, (bottom) Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times